Pam’s Flower Power October – Marigold Pages 18

garlands and decorations for festivals and religious celebrations. In Hinduism the flowers are seen to represent the perfect pairing of the Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu so are used in Hindu marriage celebrations. In Mexico and Latin American countries the flower heads are used to decorate homes and churches on All Saints Day, All Souls day and The Day of the Dead where the blossoms are believed to attract the spirits with their fragrance and bright colours. Symbolically they represent remembering the dead so are often found in graveyards in many cultures around the world.

It seems strange to note however that the marigold holds less bright associations. In flower symbolism they are also often used to represent a feeling of despaired love – loss through death or a broken heart or even rejection by a lover. Perhaps think twice before sending a gift of marigolds; you could send the wrong message! To end on a positive note the marigold has a number of medicinal antiseptic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The extract can often be found in skincare products and is generally considered to be gentle on the skin. Care should always be taken as reactions can occur in some people. Marigold petals are edible and can be used in teas, added to salads and as decorations; some taste better than others though so chose with care!

“As for marigolds, poppies, hollyhocks, and valorous sunflowers, we shall never have a garden without them, both for their own sake, and for the sake of old-fashioned folks, who use to love them” Henry Ward Beecher References. www.petalrepublic.com www.bloomandwild.com www.lovethegarden.com www.flowerfairies.com www.lovingly.com

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Foliage focus

What a great time of the year it is right now; the landscape around is looking beautiful in a way that only autumn landscapes can. It is not just the changes happening with plants and trees, but the sunny days and the crisp air quality that the season seems to bring.

We think a lot about the power of flowers in the garden but there are other choices to pack in interest, particularly if you are hoping for an all-year-round outdoor space to include autumn and long, cold winter months. Trees and shrubs are a great way to do this if you consider their merits such as foliage colour, shape and texture, bark, stem colour, berries, seed heads and more.

Here are a few top picks for autumn foliage.

The burning bush – the title says it all really – Euonymus alatus, is a shrub that comes into its own now, with spectacular crimson and scarlet leaves and added appeal of corky ‘wings’ on its branches.

Another with an evocative name, the smoke bush, or Cotinus, of which there are a number of species, gives lots to a garden, with purple leaves turning rich red in autumn. This is preceded by plumes of summer flowers in shades of pink; C. coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ and C. ‘Grace’ are favourites.

When contemplating Hydrangeas a lot of us might think of flamboyant summer flowers in pinks, blues, creams and white. However one particular species, Hydrangea quercifolia, does more than provide brilliant summer blooms. The name tells us it has oak-leaf shaped foliage, which is attractive enough in itself, but in addition the leaves turn lovely hues of purple and red right about